Chapter Text
“I’ll be just fine Mob!”
He placed his free hand in his pocket, currently standing outside of what appears to be the most untrustworthy warehouse he has ever seen. Reigen, being the simple ‘best psychic’ of modern history, had complied himself to getting a call leading him to this very place. It was far away that’s for sure, but to be there for a client in need, that’s all he can and will do.
Seasoning City, is getting bigger and wider with variety of species and people with weird magical abilities. But the SNS owner says otherwise, with a shrug.
He doesn’t really mind, knowing he’s stuck with having a powerful esper under his wing and having immense confidence to the point of pretending he’s a psychic and fooling everyone. But that’s another story.
The man let out a sigh, as he hears his younger employees’ voice through his flip phone.
“You sure? You say that every time, yet you call me 5 minutes after.” Shigeo’s voice wavers.
Reigen let out a chuckle, “I’ll be fine! You have school anyways, don’t worry about it.”
He chimed, waving his hand as if he was really in front of him, a small sparkle in his action. He could faintly see Mob’s face giving him a worried look. And just as he thought, Shigeo sighed through the phone, growing used to his boss’s antics.
“If you say so, don’t hesitate to reach out,” Shigeo started.
“—And don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.” Reigen finished his sentence for him, letting out a relaxed laugh like it was a normal Tuesday. Which in fact, is.
The man closed the call as he headed towards the abandoned warehouse. He could feel himself shiver slightly just by being present there. The rocks against his feet crackled, crunching as each footstep progressed. The view of the warehouse Reigen was assigned to was more clear. If you told him that this place was bad news, he would’ve believed it. The warehouse looked like it hadn’t been touched or even thought about, as it sported vines, horrendous leaves and stiff grass growing taller around the outline of the rusty walls.
“Wow. Goodness..” Reigen muttered aloud. Just by being this near towards it, it looked like it was going to fall and collapse with ease. Reigen rubbed his eyes, then considered taking a breath.
That was a mistake.
The smell was so bad. Too bad. It was mixed with the fresh scent of blood, he could sense the radiation and the scent of something that was rotting and decaying. Maybe this was a bad idea, then again if Reigen brought in Mob with him then he wouldn’t be the only one hunched over in uneasiness.
The place and atmosphere didn’t feel colder than it was, it felt normal if you minus everything but the temperature. The conman sighed, dragging a nervous hand through his hair as he continued forward. The client he had called last week wanted him to inspect it, since throughout the cornfields there was reported loud noise and horrendous creaking that made the whole household unable to have peaceful nights sleep.
The said client would’ve came along if they weren’t so paranoid about it. Spirits and Such Consultation has been growing throughout the years ever since Shigeo had joined his team, so it was evident that they were going to be called to inspect it first.
Shigeo has school, so he can’t exactly just call and disturb him for this, even if it’s for the job. Reigen learnt that the hard way. One name; Ritsu.
He appeared through the darkness, his eyes getting used to looking across the open roll-up doors of the worn out depository. He was about to open his mouth, to call whatever was deciding to wallow in it and get it’s attention to make the disturbance leave. But before he could do that..
“Holy..”
He took a step back, then another. A chill traversing through his spine seeing a bloodied hand caught in his vision. Why did he have to look down?
He gulped. His nape already sweating. His eyebrows furrowed. He didn’t even notice his breath hitching. Maybe not bringing Mob with him was a good idea after all.
Reigen stepped forward. Another foot decided to traverse forward. Then another. His heartbeat was skipping all over the shop, not knowing how to handle this when his eye catches more and more trampled corpses and guts spilt. The walls, crates, floors, poles that held up the place were just caked with the devilish red liquid. It was just everywhere. It looked more than just a crime scene.
Most of it wasn’t just red, many were splattered in different colours that didn’t look like it belonged to any human. He felt like vomiting. He knew he should’ve brought someone along with him, literally anyone besides a kid at least.
Reigen’s mind swallowed him whole. His legs about to just swerve the other way and probably spend the rest of his restless nights being bothered by Dimple. This was definitely not going to be cleansed off from his mind. The man’s breath hitched, holding back a retch.
Reigen would’ve up and left, if he hadn’t looked right across from him to see a person standing. They definitely looked taller and it was hard to tell what they actually were. The first thing in his gullible and kind mind was to approach whoever this person was. He couldn’t imagine being the only survivor of this monstrous massacre. But his logical side pulled him back.
‘This is probably their doing… What am I even thinking?’ Reigen’s thoughts screamed at himself.
He took a sigh, finally walking forward, step by step. He made many mental notes to immediately discard his suit with a brand new one and take three showers.
Reigen continued to walk cautiously, it was hard to tell what it actually was, but after proceeding closer, his kind side took over again.
This person, more like a kid, looked bruised, pale and extremely skinny. It was obvious that this specimen wasn’t treated well. Not to mention the large, abnormal head which is shaped into a mutant chainsaw. He wouldn’t have said mutant if he didn’t see the ragged and sharp teeth.
The boy’s arms were the saws equivalent of a chainsaw. The mutant’s body started twitching slightly, leaning back and forth as if he was struggling to keep his still composure. Not to mention that slight chill of the place. Who knows how long he’s been dealing with these guys stapled onto the floor.
The silence creaking and the faint droplets that echoed through the area were tense and loud.
“What the..” Was all Reigen mustered up until his ears pricked at a faint, low groan in front of him.
“H.. He- Help..” The humanoid creature eventually leaned and fell, forcing Reigen to play trust fall as his instincts told him to catch the younger one before he slammed onto the ground.
The man wrapped his arms around the younger one’s shoulders, he didn’t know why he braced for impact when the mutant didn’t even weigh anything. His heart quenched and squirmed.
A feeling of mouldy and clumpy fluid ran down Reigen’s back shoulder from where the boy rested his head on, noticing the saws on the boy’s arms dripped like blood, revealing that this mutant wasn’t actually a monster or strange species, but a child.
Reigen winced, shuddering slightly at the feeling of the clay-like liquid slowly dispersing right on his back.
‘Who even is this kid?…’ His thoughts decided to say something again.
The younger male leaned his weight onto Arataka. They were both in their knees now, the mutant- well, child- received support. A small chill exceeded through Reigen once more. How is he even taking this so well? He just witnessed a young, poverty stricken child with a chainsaw on his head in a middle of what it looks to be an intense massacre of some kind.
The kid hugged back, his head subconsciously nuzzling on Arataka’s broad shoulder.
“Hnng..” A low, exhausted groan escaped the kid’s bubbling throat. And Reigen thought that whoever this child may be, he knows he’s way too young to be sounding this weary.
“Okay.. Okay come on then,” Reigen murmured, beginning to hoist him up. He already made his mind. He has now decided.
“Let’s get you out of here..”
Reigen gulped, his eyes catching towards the sea of human and non-human remains just trashed around the atmosphere.
“You’re… You’re going to- to be okay.”
The kid didn’t fail to hear the man’s slightly terrified words that sounded like he was comforting himself rather than him. The teen began to limply wrap his arms around Reigen’s neck. Struggling at that little action.
“You can rest now.”
Reigen breathed out, eventually hoisting the taller teen up and carrying him out of here. Each time he focused on the kid’s weight, he felt mental pain surge through his chest.
‘This kid must be so hungry.’ Reigen’s mentality wavers through his head.
He’s then starting to forget about the piles and piles of organs on top of each other as he began to leave, reaching out towards the light. Reigen’s venture towards the outside of the storeroom was swift. If anything he wanted to leave with whoever this kid he randomly decided to pick up.
“Who… Who are.. You?..” The boy asks meekly.
“Ah, apologies for not introducing myself earlier.” Reigen attempts to lighten up the mood, his voice more upbeat than how it was back in that abandoned room.
“Reigen Arataka.”
The boy can almost hear the small, comforting smile on Reigen’s face.
“Denji..” He finally answers, before his head going limp against Reigen’s shoulder.
He falls into deep slumber. Denji can feel some fabric wrapped around him as he’s placed on something. He doesn’t know what.
He’ll have to ask Reigen once he decides to wake up…